Veterans Healthcare Equality Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Kennedy (NY)
In Committee
Summary
Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in VA health care. This bill would bar the Department of Veterans Affairs from denying medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria that a health care provider prescribes and would require regular briefings to congressional Veterans' Affairs committees on care for transgender veterans.
Show full summary
- Transgender veterans: Would block the VA from refusing medically necessary gender dysphoria treatments and affirms that such treatments are supported by major U.S. medical associations.
- VA patients and staff: Would require the VA to ensure no one is discriminated against when receiving hospital care, medical services, or extended care services under the VA health care program.
- Congressional oversight: Would require an initial briefing not later than 90 days after enactment and quarterly briefings thereafter to House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees on furnishing care to transgender veterans and on implementation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Equal VA care for transgender veterans
This bill would bar the VA from discriminating based on gender identity in health care. The VA would not be able to deny medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria when a provider prescribes it. These rules would apply to VA hospital care, medical services, and extended care under chapter 17 of title 38. If enacted, they would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov